I know of a couple of random beatings in our neighbourhood too. There are also less fatal incidents, which in a way are as serious, which don't always make it to the papers.

Are there more vampires and zombies roaming the streets? Can we assume so, making the carrying of a firearm (with silver bullets) an understandable precaution?

It is beyond the capacity of the Police to protect - indeed, some police were set upon and beaten when responding to a domestic incident recently. They can barely protect themselves. The deterrence of being caught and arrested seems to have faded, and part of this is the reluctance of judges to put people in jail even for serious crimes. When they do go to jail, they often serve the minimum possible time before being released.